RosterResource Chat - 7/9/26
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AvatarJason Martinez
2:02
Welcome to the RosterResource chat! For trade talk purposes, these are the teams that are far enough out to assume they will be sellers ...

CIN
COL
KCR
LAA
NYM
SFG

Yes, the Red Sox (3 GB) and Tigers (4 GB) are still in the mix.

Here we go ...
drplantwrench
2:02
how many names would you sell off the angels if you were in charge of the trade deadline?
AvatarJon Becker
2:04
I don't think I would bother with discussing Trout because he doesn't want to go anywhere and that contract is underwater, but I would be more than willing to listen on anything else. Could absolutely reshape the organization's future for the better if I get the right players for Neto, Soriano, Detmers, and Adell.
Beano
2:04
Lara is up now. Is he a difference maker for the Brewers?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:07
For sure. Switch-hitter with speed, defense, and bat-to-ball skills. That will all play a factor. My favorite type of player. The contract extension already tells us that they believe in him so I think he'll play a lot. Frelick is having a rough season. Yelich is slumping and I think they also want to be cautious with him due to his injury history. I'd expect 4-5 starts per week.
Person
2:08
Kyle Harrison 124 IP in 2024, 112 IP in 2025, so far 84 IP in 2026 and a barking elbow (but apparently not in the UCL area). where do you anticipate his innings settling this season and in 2027?
AvatarJon Becker
2:10
Considering the timing of his elbow soreness and that he's not too worried about it, it's possible that he doesn't get IL'd and they just slot him at the back of the rotation out of the break to make it 12+ days between starts and close to a brief IL stint in length anyway. So I still think 150+ innings is well within reach. They need him healthy for the playoffs, though, so maybe they work some more rest in when they can.
philipmwarner92
2:10
how do the White Sox close games the rest of the way without acquiring anyone? Confidence in Dominguez seems to be at an all time low.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:14
I like their current mix-and-match options. Even with Dominguez struggling and Taylor having a few too many rough outings over the past month, they still have the two lefties (Hudson and Newcomb) and Jordan Hicks also looks much better since returning from the IL.

I do think acquiring a closer at the deadline is a possibility. Could be a tough market, though, since so many teams are in the playoff race and every team will want to add late-inning options. Emilio Pagan or Luke Weaver are the two names that stand out from the teams that already look like they'll be selling.
Person
2:14
Fuentes has been a SIRP since mid May. is starting still in the plans and how long term? wild he just turned 21
AvatarJon Becker
2:16
Should absolutely still be in the long-term plans (and I've seen nothing to make me think that it's not), there's just not enough time/need this year to get him stretched from a 1-2 inning guy all the way up to a starter. But that said, none of their current SP besides Martín Pérez are set to hit FA and they'll ideally have Strider and Schwellenbach in next year's rotation, too, so he might be relieving for another year.
fincampbell05
2:17
Even if the Red Sox continue playing their way into the picture, should they sell, considering the uncertain injury status of their ace, two of their other four best starters, and their two best hitters?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:20
They should be open-minded but I don't think anyone in that organization wants to sell if they're still in the playoff hunt. It's a sign that they failed. Bad for ticket sales. Bad for a GM who might be on the hot seat.

Not a great team on paper, but they have resources ($ and prospects) to add some pieces without doing anything too crazy. Yes, they've been bad but so have most AL teams. If they stick around in the race, they can hold out hope that Crochet and Anthony are back by September and still playing in meaningful games.
BuccoFan
2:20
If the Pirates wanted to look to the trade market for infield depth given Griffin's injury, who might be available as a Mauricio Dubon type? Would you take a flier on Anthony Volpe? Is he better than Triolo, realistically?
AvatarJon Becker
2:22
I think the acquisition cost for someone like Volpe, as maddeningly inconsistent as he's been, would be far too much for the Pirates to pay for what's ultimately a couple-month stopgap for Griffin. Triolo's an excellent fielder and quite below average but not terrible at the plate, so I don't think that can be reasonably upgraded upon knowing it's a short-term Band-Aid anyway.
Bacterun
2:22
What has happened to Jackson Merrill? 2 straight years of skills decline with production declining in line with the skill drop. His bat speed is higher then ever but his barrels are down contact down from great rookie season. Is he just pressing to much to try and up the power and its been a bad trade-off for him?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:27
Just seems like he's a super aggressive hitter and teams have a better idea of how to attack him after that amazing rookie season. It has led to him pressing, as well as just playing half of his games at Petco Park. Team slumps are far more common with Padres teams because of the ballpark.

I feel confident that he'll still be a very good player. Should be an easy 20-20 guy with plus defense for several seasons. But I thought he could be a Freddie Freeman after his rookie season, especially once he had a better idea of the strike zone. But he's nowhere close right now because he doesn't have a good idea of the strike zone.
alec_eiffel
2:28
So, going off those teams you listed at the begonning as sellers, this best pitcher available on the market is...... Peralta? Seems like an especially weak group this year, no?
AvatarJon Becker
2:29
Of the ones who are almost a sure thing to get traded, yeah, it's Peralta. But Detmers would get quite the haul since he's under control through 2028 (and has been better than Peralta this year, to boot) and if the Tigers start sliding again then of course Skubal is the best SP available.
Churlayla
2:29
Rafe Perich has been killing it at AA. What is the flaw that keeping him from being noticed?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:32
That's probably ending soon. At least for those who pay close attention to the minors, I think he'll be a guy people are talking about a lot this offseason.

After playing mostly 1B in 2025 and struggling badly in High-A, it was going to take a lot to put him on the radar. And he's done a lot. He's played more 3B in 2026 and he's absolutely raking. He has to be rising quickly on prospect lists. Not sure about his defense at 3B, but a switch-hitter who can hit like this will be noticed regardless of position.
philipmwarner92
2:33
what has been the driving force of the Orioles lackluster season?
AvatarJon Becker
2:34
Hard to point the finger at just one thing when it's this level of disappointment, but Gunnar Henderson really jumps out at me. Some horrible BABIP luck the last few days but you can't hit into bad luck putting it over the fence, and he's just not doing that enough. I really thought he was in for a bounce back after playing through the shoulder injury last year, but that hasn't materialized.
mike sixel
2:35
Twins should buy and sell if they are in this spot at the deadline? Like, Jeffers has to be dealt, assuming they get a fair offer?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:38
Yep. For the handful of teams who are probably a bit ahead of schedule to reach their playoff window (Twins, White Sox, Nats, Marlins), I'd assume this is the approach. Adding Jeffers back to the mix (tomorrow, I think) will only add to the momentum but he's also going to become a free agent and they've been fine with Caratini/Jackson. His value should be very high, even as a rental.

They also have the farm system to add some impact players. Would be pretty disappointing if they have a quiet deadline. They need to add 2 relievers and maybe a starter.
Phillip Denny
2:39
Gabriel Hughes, like Ryan Feltner, is cutting the absolute heck out of his 4S. Looks like the new CO regime likes that pitch shape?
AvatarJon Becker
2:41
It's my (fairly rudimentary) understanding that cut-ride fastballs are going to play a lot better than straighter 4S because the altitude is going to reduce IVB to the point where outlier fastballs get a lot closer to normal, but the horizontal movement is usually somewhat less effected. Will be interesting to see what pitchers they get back in deadline deals, will give us more data on that philosophy.
sliderinthedirt
2:41
The Red Sox getting hot before the trade deadline feels like the worst possible thing that could have happened to them for the long term health of the franchise. At least we’ll see some funny trades, like the “5 Dustin May starts for last year’s 13th overall pick” trade
AvatarJason Martinez
2:45
Trust me, I get the sentiment. Diehard fans of maybe 20 teams probably feel similarly at this moment. There are a lot of bad teams right now and a lot of them are still in the playoff hunt. As a fan, you don't want to miss the chance to get value on players who are 1-2 years away from free agency. But the people who make these decisions are in a different position. And the players want to win. A lot of jobs are on the line. Every meaningful game they play is a win for the organization. So "selling" isn't an easy decision.

Since we were fans before any of these players/front office employees were part of the team and will be fans when they're gone, it's a totally different perception.
Phillip Denny
2:46
What do you make of Kyle Karros? The question has always been the bat (glove passes the eye test and metrics like him), and if he's really a 110 wRC+ dude he's got the makings of an, I dunno, 4 win player?
AvatarJon Becker
2:48
He's not as good as he's been or the last month or so, but I think he's better than he showed last year. He's swinging the bat harder than last year and doing that help explains a lot, and it's led to him barreling the ball more, too. But even if he's slightly below average at the plate there's some value there because of the defense.
Person
2:48
appreciate the chats! I'm decently informed, but you guys always add context I either hadn't considered or even known. thanks! speaking of idea of the strike zone, how the hell is Kevin McGonigle this good this fast
AvatarJason Martinez
2:53
No problem! We enjoy doing this and can add context because keeping up with the news cycle is essential to doing this job. So when I say that I knew Kevin McGonigle would be this good, it's because I've been reading about him and players like him for years. A lot of great reporting around the game. A lot of great writers and evaluators. Everything about baseball is so cool.
That will do it for today. Thanks for joining us!
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